Construction method

ABSTRACT

A method of constructing a sheet-faced assembly, such as a mobile home floor assembly, having a reinforced joint between adjoining, coplanar panel members. After attaching a first panel member to a support structure, such as an array of joints, a reinforcing strip is attached to the rear side of the panel along an edge thereof with a portion of the strip extending out beyond the edge to form an underlying exposed ledge. Next, a second panel is placed on the framework with an edge abutting the edge of the first panel and overlying the exposed ledge. Then, from the front side, the second panel is fastened to the underlying portion of the seam strip and to the framework. Using the method of the invention, a workman can construct such a reinforced assembly while positioned on one side of the assembly, without the necessity of inverting or otherwise moving it during construction.

nited States Patent 91 amilton CONSTRUCTION METHOD [75] Inventor: Haldon L. Hamilton, Crescent City, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Hambro Forest Products, Inc.,

Crescent City, Calif.

22 Filed: Aug. 23, 1972 211 Appl/No; 283,050

52 U.S.Cl 29/432, 29/428, 52/747 51 lnt.Cl 823p 11/00 [58] Field of Search 287/20.94, 90.92, 20.92 J, 287/2092 C, 20.92 W; 156/91, 71, 304; 29/432, 428; 52/747; 161/50 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Carpentry Part 11, pp. 55-63, 93-108, by Gilbert [451 Oct. 29, 1974 I Townsend (1917).

Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner.lames R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kolish, Hartwell, Dickinson & Stuart 57 ABSTRACT A method of constructing a sheet-faced assembly, such as a mobile home floor assembly, having a reinforced joint between adjoining, coplanar panel members. After attaching a first panel member to a support structure, such as an array of joints, a reinforcing strip is attached to the rear side of the panel along an edge thereof with a portion of the strip extending out beyond the edge to form an underlying exposed ledge. Next, a second panel is placed on the framework with an edge abutting the edge of the first panel and overlying the exposed ledge. Then, from the front side, the second panel is fastened to the underlying portion of the seam strip and to the framework. Using the method of the invention, a workman can construct such a reinforced assembly while positioned on one side of the assembly, without the necessity of inverting or otherwise moving it during construction.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 CONSTRUCTION METHOD BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a building construction method, and more specifically to a method of constructing a sheebfaced floor, wall, or ceiling assembly in which seams between adjacent sheet members are reinforced.

In .the building industry, and particularly in that segment engaged in the construction of mobile homes, it is common to fabricate floor assemblies by securing a sheet facing to an underlying supporting framework. Typically, such a floor assembly consists of plywood or particle board sheeting fastened, using nails, screws or staples, to a framework of joists. Commercially available sheets or panels of such material are limited in size, however, so it is usually necessary to use two or more such panels, fastened edge-to-edge, to cover a complete floor.

Since the floor of a mobile home must be quite rigid to withstand the stresses encountered when the home is being moved, it is normal practice to reinforce the joints between abutting panels by securing boards known as seam strips against the underside of the panels, with the strips spanning the abutting margins of the panels.

To do this, a builder typically first attaches the floor panels to the underlying framework. Then, the entire assembly is turned over and reinforcing strips are fastened to the bottom of the panels along the seams between them. With the large floor areas typical of modern mobile homes, turning such a floor assembly over is a difficult procedure, and the assembly must be reinverted after the seam strips are in place. It should be noted, too, that heating ducts and plumbing are normally installed between and through the joists before the floor panels are laid down. Frequently, the turning and twisting involved in inverting the assembly causes damage to the already installed plumbing and duct work. I

To avoid the necessity of inverting the entire floor assembly, a builder can, instead, attach a seam strip to two abutting panels. The thus joined panels are then inverted as a unit, placed on and fastened to the floor joists. Obviously, however, this is also a difficult and cumbersome procedure.

A general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a method whereby a sheet-faced assembly having reinforced joints between adjacent panel members arranged in coplanar, edge-to-edge relationship, and secured to a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel supports, may be constructed without the necessity of inverting or otherwise moving the assembly during its construction.

It is a further object to provide a method whereby such an assembly may be constructed by a workman positioned generally on one side thereof.

Specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a method whereby afloor assembly comprising abutting, coplanar panels having a seam reinforcing strip attached to the bottom side of the panels,spanning their abutting margins, may be conveniently constructed by a workman positioned adjacent the top side thereof.

Accordingly, a method is provided whereby a first panel member is secured to a supporting framework, and, from the front side thereof, a seam strip is fastened to the rear side of the panel along an edge thereof with a portion of the strip extending out beyond said edge to form an underlying exposed ledge. Next, a second panel is placed on the framework with an edge abutting the edge of the first panel and overlying the exposed ledge portion of the seam strip. Then, still from the front side, the second panel is fastened to the underlying portion of the seam strip, and to the framework.

According to a preferred practice of the invention, the seam strip is attached to the panels using staples, either alone or together with an adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages of the novel method of the invention will become more apparent as the description which follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a construction according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of an alternate construction according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of a seam strip using a stapling machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To illustrate the novel method of the invention, a floor assembly for a mobile home or travel trailer is constructed by first providing a supporting structure comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel elongate support members. One known type of support structure, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 comprises an array of support members or joists 12 arranged generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mobile home. A second type of structure, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and referred to as an outer-frame construction," comprises an array of joists l3 laid generally perpendicular to the mobile homes longitudinal axis, and disposed between spaced, opposing outer-frame members 15 (one shown in FIG. 3).

For purposes of illustration, the method of the invention will be further described with reference to the form of construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6. It will be readily apparent, however, that the method is equally applicable with the outer-frame construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a supporting structure comprising an array of joists 12, is laid in position, and a first floor panel member or panel 16 of plywood or particle board is secured to the joists, with the bottom or back side of the panel adjoining the supporting structure. In a typical mobile home assembly as illustrated in the drawings, joists 12 may be 2 inch X 8 inch (nominal) boards, spaced on 16 inch l8 inch centers, with panel 16 of /s inch sheeting. Next, reinforcing strips, referred to herein as seam strips" l8 are attached to the underside of panel 16 between each pair of joists. These seam strips may be cut from material similar to that used for panel I6, or from, for example,

solid board lumber. As shown herein, seam strips 18 are of inch sheet material having a width of about 6 inches and a length somewhat less than the distance between adjacent joists. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, each seam strip 18 is attached along the margin of panel 16 so that it extends out or protrudes beyond edge 20 of the panel to provide an underlying exposed area or ledge 22 along edge 20.

After seam strips 18 have been attached to panel 16, a second panel member or panel 24 (shown in dot-dash outline) is placed on joists 12 with an edge of the panel abutting edge 20 of panel 16, and thereby overlying ledge 22. With fastening of panel 24 to the exposed portion of seam strip 18, and to joists 12, a floor assembly having a rigid, reinforced joint between abutting panel members is obtained.

Seam strip 18 may be attached or fastened to panels 16 and 24 using any convenient method which will produce a strong, rigid joint. As will be more fully described below, the seam strips are preferably attached using staples, and more preferably, using staples together with an adhesive.

Although the method of the invention has been described with reference to the type of structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be apparent that the method is equally applicable to the outer-frame construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in these drawings, seam strip 19 consists of a single strip fastened along the lower margin of panel 16 adjacent edge 20 thereof, and extending between opposing frame members 15 (one shown). Obviously, seam strip 19 could also take the form of several shorter strips, positioned end-toend.

In addition, it should be obvious that the method of the invention, while described in terms of a floor construction method, is useful, for example, in wall or ceiling construction, and is similarly useful with building materials other than those specifically described herein.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is a preferred method of attaching a seam strip, using a fastening machine such as that described in applicants copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 255,565 filed May 22, 1972, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Fastening machine 26 comprises a power-operated stapler 28, which upon actuation by an operator 30 drives a staple out head portion 32. Secured to the underside of stapler 28 is a clamping attachment 34 (shown in part) including an elongate support member (not shown) which extends beneath head 32 and is positionable between a loading position, and a staple-receiving position through operation of a handle 36.

Describing now how fastening machine 26 may be used to secure seam strip 18 to the underside of panel 16, with the underlying support member placed in a loading position, the strip, which typically has a length somewhat less than the spacing between adjacent joists 12, is mounted in machine 26 by sliding it between keeper arms 38 and the support member until one edge of the strip abuts flange member 40. With the strip so positioned, the upward-bent forward extremities of keeper arms 38 are located about midway between the sides of the strip.

With the strip loaded on the support, operator 30, through manipulation of the stapling machine, may bring strip 18 up against the underside of panel 16. Prior to this, a deposit of adhesive may be applied over the top face of the strip. After the seam strip is brought up against panel 16, with the edge 20 of the panel against the upturned ends of keeper arms 38, handle 36 may be operated to shift the support into its staplereceiving position, thus clamping the margin of panel 16 and strip 18 between head 32 and the support member, as shown in FIG. 6.

With operation of the staple machine, a staple is ejected from head 32 to pass through the panel and strip, firmly securing the two together. Handle 36 is then operated to release the clamping pressure, and the fastening machine moved laterally to position it for the insertion of another staple. After sufficient staples have been inserted, the stapling machine and attachment are removed.

FIG. 5 depicts a portion of a floor assembly constructed in the manner just described, with a seam strip 18 firmly united to a panel 16 by a plurality of staples 42 and an adhesive. In FIG. 5, a previously applied glue line, similar to that shown at 44, has spread under clamping pressure to form adhered area 46.

After a second panel has been placed on joists 12 with fitting of its edge against edge 20 and over ledge 22 (glue line 44 having been previously applied), the panel is fastened to strip 18 by forcing staples down through the margin of the panel into the seam strip. Strips attached in the manner described are strong enough to permit this stapling.

There is thus provided a method whereby a rigid, reinforced joint between adjacent panel members in a sheet-faced assembly may be formed conveniently by a workman positioned on one side of the assembly. Although a preferred embodiment has been described herein, it is understood that variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A method of constructing a sheet-faced reinforced assembly comprising providing a support structure comprising a plurality of elongate laterally spaced support members defining a common plane, adjacent support members being spaced from each other by a void between the members,

securing a first panel to the support structure with said panel paralleling the plane defined by the structure and with the back side of the panel adjoining the structure, at least a portion of a margin of said panel adjacent an edge of the panel and on the back side of the panel facing a void between adjacent support members,

from the front side of said first panel fastening a seam strip to the back side of the panel along said portion of said margin with the seam strip fitting in said void, said seam strip being positioned as fastened with a portion of the strip projecting beyond said edge of said panel whereby said portion of the strip is exposed from the front side of said panel,

securing a second panel to the support structure with an edge of the second panel abutting said edge of the first panel and with a portion of the margin of said second panel on the back side and adjacent said edge of the second panel overlying the projecting portion of said strip, and

bers are arranged in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship, and the first panel is secured to the support structure with its said edge substantially perpendicular to said support members.

performed using staples.

from the front side of the second panel fastening said second panel to the seam strip through its said margin.

2. The method of claim, 1 wherein said support mem- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the support mem- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said fastening is performed using staples together with an adhesive.

6. A method of constructing a reinforced floor assembly, comprising providing a support structure comprising a plurality of laterally spaced joists defining a common plane, adjacent joists being spaced from each other by a void between the joists,

securing a first floor panel to the support structure with such panel paralleling the plane defined by said structure and with the bottom side of said panel adjoining said structure, at least a portion of a margin of said panel adjacent an edge of the panel and on the underside of the panel facing a void between adjacent joists,

from the top side of said panel fastening a seam strip to the underside of the panel along said portion of said margin with the seam strip fitting in said void, said seam strip being positioned as fastened with a portion of the strip projecting beyond said edge of 35 said panel whereby said portion of the strip is exposed from the top side of said panel,

securing a second floor panel to the support structure with an edge of the second panel abutting said edge of the first panel and with a portion of the margin of the second panel on the underside and adjacent said edge of the second panel overlying the projecting portion of said seam strip, and

from the top side of the second panel fastening the second panel to the seam strip through its said margm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first floor panel is secured to the support structure with its said edge substantially parallel to the joists.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first floor panel is secured to the support structure with its said edge substantially perpendicular to said joists.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said fastening is performed using staples.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said fastening is performed using staples together with an adhesive.

11. A method of constructing an assembly comprising panels disposed in a common substantially horizontal plane and secured to an underlying support structure comprising preparing a support structure from multiple, elongate laterally spaced support members, which members define a substantially horizontal supporting plane, adjacent support members being spaced from each other by a void between the members,

arranging in a plane paralleling said support plane and in secured relationship on said support structure a first panel with said panel spanning multiple ones of said support members and disposed so that at least a portion of a margin on the underside of the panel adjacent an edge thereof overlies a void between adjacent support members, said portion of said margin having a seam strip secured thereto fitting within said void and said seam strip projecting beyond said edge to be exposed from the top of the panel,

arranging another panel in secured relationship on said support members with said other panel having an edge adjacent said edge of said first panel and with said other panel disposed in a plane which is a continuation of said plane of the first panel, said other panel having a margin adjacent its said edge which overlies said se'am strip, and from the top side of said other panel securing said other panel through its said margin to said seam strip. 

1. A method of constructing a sheet-faced reinforced assembly comprising providing a support structure comprising a plurality of elongate laterally spaced support members defining a common plane, adjacent support members being spaced from each other by a void between the members, securing a first panel to the support structure with said panel paralleling the plane defined by the structure and with the back side of the panel adjoining the structure, at least a portion of a margin of said panel adjacent an edge of the panel and on the back side of the panel facing a void between adjacent support members, from the front side of said first panel fastening a seam strip to the back side of the panel along said portion of said margin with the seam strip fitting in said void, said seam strip being positioned as fastened with a portion of the strip projecting beyond said edge of said panel whereby said portion of the strip is exposed from the front side of said panel, securing a second panel to the support structure with an edge of the second panel abutting said edge of the first panel and with a portion of the margin of said second panel on the back side and adjacent said edge of the second panel overlying the projecting portion of said strip, and from the front side of the second panel fastening said second panel to the seam strip through its said margin.
 2. The method of claim, 1 wherein said support members are arranged in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship, and wherein said first panel is secured to said support structure with its said edge substantially parallel to said support members.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the support members are arranged in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship, and the first panel is secured to the support structure with its said edge substantially perpendicular to said support members.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said fastening is performed using staples.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said fastening is performed using staples together with an adhesive.
 6. A method of constructing a reinforced floor assembly, comprising providing a support structure comprising a plurality of laterally spaced joists defining a common plane, adjacent joists being spaced from each other by a void between the joists, securing a first floor panel to the support structure with such panel paralleling the plane defined by said structure and with the bottom side of said panel adjoining said structure, at least a portion of a margin of said panel adjacent an edge of the panel and on the underside of the panel facing a void between adjacent joists, from the top side of said panel fasteNing a seam strip to the underside of the panel along said portion of said margin with the seam strip fitting in said void, said seam strip being positioned as fastened with a portion of the strip projecting beyond said edge of said panel whereby said portion of the strip is exposed from the top side of said panel, securing a second floor panel to the support structure with an edge of the second panel abutting said edge of the first panel and with a portion of the margin of the second panel on the underside and adjacent said edge of the second panel overlying the projecting portion of said seam strip, and from the top side of the second panel fastening the second panel to the seam strip through its said margin.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first floor panel is secured to the support structure with its said edge substantially parallel to the joists.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first floor panel is secured to the support structure with its said edge substantially perpendicular to said joists.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein said fastening is performed using staples.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein said fastening is performed using staples together with an adhesive.
 11. A method of constructing an assembly comprising panels disposed in a common substantially horizontal plane and secured to an underlying support structure comprising preparing a support structure from multiple, elongate laterally spaced support members, which members define a substantially horizontal supporting plane, adjacent support members being spaced from each other by a void between the members, arranging in a plane paralleling said support plane and in secured relationship on said support structure a first panel with said panel spanning multiple ones of said support members and disposed so that at least a portion of a margin on the underside of the panel adjacent an edge thereof overlies a void between adjacent support members, said portion of said margin having a seam strip secured thereto fitting within said void and said seam strip projecting beyond said edge to be exposed from the top of the panel, arranging another panel in secured relationship on said support members with said other panel having an edge adjacent said edge of said first panel and with said other panel disposed in a plane which is a continuation of said plane of the first panel, said other panel having a margin adjacent its said edge which overlies said seam strip, and from the top side of said other panel securing said other panel through its said margin to said seam strip. 